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THE 



WONDERFUL FAIRIES 

OF 

THE SUN 




'* And all of the Fairies, both rich and poor, 
Are welcome within its door." 



THE 



WONDERFUL FAIRIES 



OF 



THE SUN 



BY 

ERNEST VINCENT WRIGHT 

// 



;Finus;tratton9( 

BY CORA M. NORMAN 



. JUL S3 1896 -au 

BOSTON 

ROBERTS BROTHERS 
1896 






Copyright, 1896, 
By Ernest Vincent Wright. 



John Wilson and Son, Cambridge, U.S.A. 



^f-/Z 



3 OO-^ 



PREFACE. 



^T^HE subject of Fairies as a basis for children's stories 
■*- is by no means a new one. From time immemorial 
writers of fiction have resorted to their characteristic masrical 
achievements, either as an embellishment to rational stories, 
or devoting a volume entirely to them. But all fairy tales 
heretofore have borne a similarity of style, seemingly limited 
by the customary manner of introducing them into the 
fables. Generally, human beings, such as Kings, Princesses, 
or children, are made the leading characters, with the 
fairies as occasional participants in the unfolding of the 
fable's wonders. 

In " The Wonderful Fairies of the Sun " the elves are 
given exclusive prominence, with human beings brought in 
only when necessary to carry out an idea of surroundings. 
The subjects dealt with are manifestly well known to 
children, and it is hoped that many pleasant thoughts in 
connection with the workings of Nature may be derived 
from this volume, wherein the fairy bands appear in a 
new field of action, portrayed in simple verse of easy 
metre, but at the same time avoiding the conventional 
"jingle." 

The Author. 




Page 

The Wonderful Fairies of the Sun i 

The Fairy King and Queen c 

The Raindrop Elves g 

The Snowflakes i^ 

The Rainbow Fairy i^ 

The Cloud Fairies 25 

The Wind Fairies * 31 

The Fairies of the Night 3^ 

The Dream Fairies 43 

The Frost Fairy ^g. 

The Musical Sprites 54 

The Wedding of "The Man in the Moon" 57 

Santa Claus' Assistants 62 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 



" And all the Fairies, both rich and poor, 

Are welcome within its door " Frontispiece 

" So, calling his chariot every morn, p^^j. 

Through the regions of space he 's whirled " 4 

" In a crescent-shaped silver boat " 7 

" Some choose the roofs to clean and scrub " ii 

" Which, pushed by the Wind-God, takes them home " 12 

" And the drivers, decked with sleigh-bells, 

Wave a merry, bright ' good-bye ' " 14 

" Lighting on the trees and house-tops," 

Softly, gently, side by side" 16 

"When, out of her home in a Star, 
This beautiful goddess came riding" 18 

"And they stuck all those Raindrops together 

In the form of a beautiful arch " 20 

" Sent up hosts of artists to paint it 

In every conceivable shade " 22 

" High overhead, above the sky. 

Their plans are drawn and laid " 24 

*' In a monstrous foundry, where the Wind 

A thousand forges blows" 26 

" In a magic-lantern held before 

The slowly setting sun" 28 

" He dances all day with the Polar Bears " 30 

xi 



xii List of Illustrations. 

" He flirts with the Mermaids, he rocks their waves, Page 

And sings them his weird love-song " 32 

"Every one loves her, she "s so refined; 

So gentle, so light and neat " 34 

" She dresses in careless, tom-boy style. 

Her cloak flapping here and there " 36 

" Some have bedding for the Insects, — 

Gowns and nightcaps for the Birds " 38 

" Owls and Bats, with young Mosquitoes, 

Mice and Fire-flies, dance and hop" 40 

" And while you are sleeping they climb up and squat 

In a row on the foot of your bed " 42 

" And while it is working, they dance " 44 

" For they scamper in forty directions at once 

When they think you 're about to awake " 46 

" And they are such wonderful pictures too, — 

So skilfully carved and drawn" 48 

" Taking pictures of waving grains. 
That give him ideas for his shows next year" 50 

" They are taken to places beyond the sky, 

And there they are dusted and swept " 52 

" Thus, early and late are these teachers at work, 

Each proud of his own special class" 55 

" He was always rather partial to the little school-girl Stars " 58 

"Fierce old Mars would be policeman at the door" 60 

" And tells what toys those boys have got. 

And what he thinks they need " 63 

"Her sleigh is made of glistening frost" 65 



THE 



WONDERFUL FAIRIES OF THE SUN, 



yfGES ago, when the IVorld was new, 
.^± Dame Nature discovered, one day, 

TJjat she could n't take care of it all alone. 
And sent out her heralds to say 
That some one was needed to help with the work, 
' Some Goblins, Gnomes, Spirits, or Elves ; 
And the very next day, at Jjer office door, 
The Fairies presented tljemselves. 



TJjey said tJjey were workmen of every trade ; 

And tJjey knew, if slje'd let tJjem hit try, 
TJjat tijey could become quite a Jjelp to ijer 

On the Earth, or around in tJje Sky. 
T/jey were willing to work, though most Fairies are not 

(Preferring to dance, play, and sing), — 
So she hired the Band ; then tloey all cast a vote 

And elected tlje Sun for tlieir King. 



The WonderfzU Fairies of the Sun. 

The King then explained what there was to do: 

One tribe must attend to the Snow; 
Another must govern the Clouds, IVinds, and Rain; 

And some one must stay down below, 
Bring dreams to the children, help Santa Claus work, 

Take care of tJje World in the night. 
Sprinkle frost on the ground, teach the birds how to sing, 

Injact, keep the Earth clean and brigjjt. 

The Fairies all listened with joy unconfined, 

Well pleased to get something to do ; 
Then each of the tribes chose a branch of the work, 

And promised to carry it through. 
Two superintendents, called Daytime and Night, 

Were appointed to show them the way ; 
And one or the other is always around 

Wherever Dame Nature holds sway; 

Then off they all scattered, each tribe to their work; 

And even to-day we can see 
How well these wee Fairies have kept to their word; 

What helpers we 've found them to be : 
If it was n't for Fairies the World would be dark. 

And people imhappy and sad; 
But they light up the World with their beautiful works, 

And keep us all merry and glad. 







*' So, calling his chariot every morn, 

Through the regions of space he 's whirled." 



THE FAIRY KING AND QUEEN. 

n~^HE Sun is the King of the Fairy Realms, 
^ And a Monarch we all know well; 
So let us gaze high o'er the skies and see 

Where this King and his courtiers dwell. 
'T is a beautiful palace of solid gold, 

With jewels and jems galore ; 
And all of the Fairies, both rich and poor, 

Are welcome within its door. 



He works very hard for a Royal King, 

For there always appears to be 
A legion of things to be done each day 

That no one can do but he. 
So, calling his chariot every morn, 

Through the regions of space he's whirled, 
With a thousand bright Sunbeams to wait on him 

On his journey around the world. 

When taking this trip, he is always dressed 

In an armor of shining gold; 
And he carries a sword made of rays of light. 

Which he uses, so I am told, 

5 



The Wonderful, Fairies of the Sun. 

To punch through the clouds when a storm is o'er, 

In order that he may see 
If the Raindrops have finished their work and left 

All things as they ought to be. 

His throne is a glorious blaze of light; 

And round on all sides there stand 
Hundreds of Elves as ambassadors 

From each separate Fairy Band. 
But close to the throne his advisers sit, — 

Four fellows well known to all : 
They are General Winter, Lieutenant Spring, 

Sir Summer, and Captain Fall. 

When this Sun King returns from his ride each night, 

He sits on his throne in state ; 
While his servants light up the sunset clouds 

Till the Stars at his palace gate 
Bring warning that Night is drawing nigh, 

And Daylight has nearly fled ; 
Then he kisses the mountain-tops "good-night," 

And leisurely goes to bed. 

But when he 's asleep, who rules the world } 

Who could, pray, except the Moon } 
For she is the Queen of the Midnight Skies, 

As he is the King of the Noon. 




" In a crescent-shaped silver boat." 



The Wonderful Fairies of the Sun. 

She doesn't dash round in chariot grand, 

But rather prefers to float 
Serenely around in the cool night air, 

In a crescent-shaped silver boat. 

The stars are her bright-eyed messengers, 

Who leave the King's Palace gate 
To follow the Queen throughout the night ; 

And eagerly do they wait 
To be sent on an errand down to the Earth, 

Or some planet across the sky: 
So she calls them all Comets or Shooting Stars, 

From the way that they rush and fly. 




THE RAINDROP ELVES. 

WAY up above the clouds and sky, 
Too far to see with mortal eye, 
There lives another Fairy Band 
Well known to all, on sea or land. 
We'll call this tribe the Raindrop Elves 
(For that is what they call themselves), 
But, doing work unlike the rest. 
Of course they 're differently dressed. 
For, washing trees and scrubbing grass, 
Or making pebbles shine like glass, 
While pails and brushes lie around 
With wet rags scattered over the ground, 
Calls for a special style of suits, — 
For overalls and rubber boots. 
So, dressed like this they wait until 
The Wind-God whistles long and shrill; 
Which means that at their city gate 
A half a dozen clouds await 
To take them to the world below 
As soon as they're prepared to go. 
Each Elf his big valise has packed. 
Which on the cloud is piled and stacked; 
9 



lO The Wonderful Fairies of the Sun. 

Then, climbing high upon the pile, 

All hands float downward mile by mile. 

As, steadily, swiftly down they go. 

The clouds, which once were white as snow, 

Get blackened from the many feet ; 

And, when a counter wind they meet, 

The shifting, tumbling piles of bags 

Soon tear the clouds in shreds and rags ; 

For rain-clouds are not often white. 

And do not fly at any height. 

When near the Earth these clouds arrive, 

Half of the drops with spring and dive 

Jump off ; and dropping down through space 

They start out on a lively race. 

Each hurrying down for all he 's worth, 

To be the first to reach the Earth. 

Some land in trees, roll up their sleeves, 

Wash off the bark, repaint the leaves. 

And brighten up the fruit or buds 

By a generous dose of magic suds. 

Then others light upon the ground 

And straightway clean whate'er is found. 

Some wash the flowers in a tub. 

Some choose the roofs to clean and scrub; 

And when they 've lots of roofs to do 

They bring their children with them too, 




BPltffH!l?i!|!«i^« 



■'■ Some choose the roofs to clean and scrub." 







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•' Which, pushed by the Wind-God, takes them home. 



The Raindrop Elves. \x 

Who clean the house-top gutters out, 
And always tumble down the spout. 

But, on the clouds that brought this rain, 

A host of Raindrops still remain. 

They stay there with their goods until 

The cloud lands on a lofty hill ; 

Then stepping calmly off, they start 

To carry out their special part. 

They hunt up with their clever eyes 

The springs where rills and brooklets rise. 

And keep them clear and well filled up 

With water from their magic cup. 

They follow these little rills and brooks 

Through open fields and shady nooks; 

Then down the rivers wend their way, 

To harbor, gulf, or open bay. 

Until at last, bright, gay, and free, 

They reach the mighty boundless sea. 

The Drops who 've worked on roofs and trees. 

Before long join themselves with these, 

And send word that their work is done 

To the King of the Fairy World, the Sun, 

Who sends his chariots from the skies; 

And up in the air these Raindrops rise 

To a cloud as white as the ocean's foam, 

Which, pushed by the Wind-God, takes them home. 




" And the drivers, decked with sleigh-bells, 
Wave a merry, bright ' good-bye.' " 



THE SNOWFLAKES. 

TT7HEN the Summer days grow shorter 

* * And the Autumn holds its sway; 
When the Flowers close up their houses, 

And the Birds have moved away; 
Then, up in the Polar regions 

Where the towering icebergs rise, 
Lots of little sleeping Fairies 

Stretch and yawn, and open their eyes. 

They're the Sprites who drive the Snowflakes; 

And on every hand, it seems, 
Robes or jockey caps are scattered; 

While their curious horseless teams, 
Everywhere on clouds and icebergs. 

Stand on end, or on their side, 
In confusion, as they left them 

From the previous Winter's ride. 

When the North Wind comes and calls them, 

All these Sprites rush here and there. 
Setting up their scattered chariots, 

Patching those that need repair; 
Getting all things fixed and ready 

For their drive through many a clime, 
When Old Winter pops his head in, 

TelHng them it's starting time. 
15 




" Lighting on the trees and house-tops, 
Softly, gently, side by side." 



The Snowfiakes. ly 

Then the Aurora Borealis 

Shoots bright flashes o'er the sky, 
And the drivers, decked with sleigh-bells, 

Wave a merry, bright "good-bye." 
Now they're off! midst songs and cheering, 

And the bells' sweet jingling notes, — 
Off to beautify some country 

With their pure white sparkling coats. 

There are two far different classes 

Of these Fairies of the Snow. 
One class, perched on downy cushions. 

Rest in comfort, driving slow; 
Lighting on the trees and house-tops, 

Softly, gently, side by side; 
Some preferring lofty mountains, 

Fields and pastures, broad and wide. 

But the other class are swift ones! 

Standing firmly on their seat 
They come dashing down upon us 

In the form of Hail and Sleet. 
Never thinking where they're steering, 

On they scamper, wild and rash, 
Till they strike a tree or fence-post 

And their chariot goes to smash! 




" When, out of her home in a Star, 
This beautiful goddess came riding." 



THE RAINBOW FAIRY. 

'T^HERE once lived a beautiful Fairy, 
■^ Who floated around in the sky. 
She was always inventing new wonders 

To please or astonish the eye. 
As soon as she finished one notion 

She 'd start again, hunting around 
All over the sky to discover 

What new things there were to be found. 

It happened one day to be raining. 

When out of her home in a star 
This beautiful Goddess came riding; 

But had n't progressed very far 
When she met an ambitious young Sunbeam ; 

And, resting a while on a wall, 
She told him she 'd lately discovered 

The orreatest invention of all. 



a' 



The Moon was this Goddess's workshop. 

And up there they wended their flight. 
Then she gave him a dozen small Raindrops 

And asked him to shine them up bright. 
He scrubbed and he rubbed, till he had them 

So bright they were all of a glow; 
And ere the good Fairy perceived it 

He 'd shined up a hundred or so. 
19 







"And they stuck all those Raindrops to^ethe, 
In the form ofa beautiful arch." 



The Rainbow Fairy. 21 

The Fairy was simply delighted, 

And called in more Beams to his aid 
Till at last, after hours of scrubbing, 

A million bright drops they had made. 
The Big Bear brought in the Big Dipper, 

Having filled it with mucilage and starch ; 
And they stuck all those Raindrops together 

In the form of a beautiful arch. 

Then high in the heavens they hung it; 

And the Earth, from a promise she 'd made, 
Sent up hosts of artists to paint it 

In every conceivable shade. 
Each separate color was given 

By a different child of the Earth, 
And their richness and skill of their blending 

Is a proof that they knew of its worth. 

The violet and indigo colorings 

Were sent by the Deep Rolling Seas, 
The blue from the Lakes and the Rivers, 

The screen from the Grasses and Trees. 
The Sunset sent red in abundance, 

While out of the Desert's fierce heat 
Came tintings of orange and yellow. 

Which made the invention complete. 




" Sent up hosts of artists to paint it 
In every conceivable shade." 



The Rainbow Faiiy. 

By this time the rain was most over, 

And the Sun saw the beautiful bow, 
And sent over thousands of Sunbeams 

To light it and keep it aglow. 
But the Fairy had fears that the colors 

Might fade in such powerful light, 
So she only displays it in showers, 

When the Sun does n't shine very bright. 



23 



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-' High overhead, above the sky, 

Their plans are drawn and laid." 



THE CLOUD FAIRIES. 

THERE'S another band of Fairies 
Who live high in the air, 
Who never come down on the Earth, 

But stay forever there. 
They're called "The Fairies of the Clouds," 

For all they have to do 
Is make designs for different clouds 
That please and puzzle you. 



High overhead, above the sky 

Their plans are drawn and laid, 
And down on the Horizon's rim 

The clouds are cut and made. 
From there they're sailed across the sky 

In glorious array, 
Until upon the farther side 

They slowly fade away. 
25 




C/^No^F^ 



•'In a monstrous foundry, where the Wind 
A thousand forges blows." 



The Cloud Fairies. 27 

Whene'er you see one tiny cloud 

Alone in all the sky, 
Just watch him close, and note his pranks 

As he goes skipping by. 
He 's slipped beneath the watchful eye 

Of the cloud-despatching elf, 
And tickled to death because he 's got 

The whole sky to himself! 

Those little fleecy clouds are made 

By pretty Fairy girls, 
Who love to have them soft and white, 

And fringe their edge with curls. 
Then, some are like huge balls of wool, 

Or sheets of drifting snow, 
That stretch before the Moon at nio^ht, 

Who sets them all aMow. 

Then there's the frightful thunder-clouds! 

The Fairy men make those 
In a monstrous foundry, where the Wind 

A thousand forges blows. 
They fill these clouds with dynamite. 

And the little Fairy boys 
Explode them during thunder-storms 

With a fearful flash and noise. 







<' In a magic-lantern held before 
The slowly setting sun." 



The Cloud Fairies. 

But these Fairies' Special Artist 

Has a studio by himself; 
And you can rest assured he is 

A very busy elf: 
For he paints all the sunset clouds 

In all their tints and rays, 
And shows them off at eventide 

On pleasant summer days. 

He paints them first on strips of glass, 

And holds them one by one 
In a magic lantern held before 

The slowly setting sun. 
And if you watch you '11 often see 

A scarlet change to blue, 
Or a white to pink, which plainly proves 

That what I say is true. 



29 



\/_- 







QH.^'h 



He dances all day with the Polar Bears." 



THE WIND FAIRIES. 

TT 7E now meet four Fairies unlike the Gnomes, 

^ ^ The GobHns, the Sprites, or Elves ; 
For all of those Fairies are found in tribes 

Exclusive among themselves. 
The Four Winds, however, have different tastes. 

Preferring to live alone. 
And roam o'er the Earth or the boundless skies 

In a manner that s all their own. 

Two boys and two girls form this strange quartet. 

Who never were known to rest. 
One boy is called North Wind, the other one East, 

While the ladies are South and West. 
They each have their home, though they're miles apart, 

And each in a different clime ; 
But there always is one of them round our home, 

Though never but one at a time. 



•&' 



Sir North is a blustering, hearty chap, 

Always dressed in a suit of snow. 
He spends all his time in the Arctic lands 

With the reindeer and Esquimaux. 
He dances all day with the Polar Bears, 

And through the long frigid nights 
He works at his bellows, that furnish the draft 

For the hiQ^h-blazinsf Northern Liehts. 

31 



\ H hf. 




" He flirts with the Mermaids, he rocks their waves, 
And sings them his weird love-song." 



The Wind Fairies. 33 

The other boy, East, loves the deep blue Sea, 

And helps the great ships along. 
He flirts with the Mermaids, he rocks their waves. 

And sings them his weird love-song. 
The only real work that he has to do 

Is to sweep up the morning skies. 
And put the small blinking stars to bed 

When it 's time for the Sun to rise. 

He stays at the beaches in summer time, 

And keeps them both fresh and cool. 
He rides on the backs of the plunging whales; 

He chases the mackerel school. 
He laughs when the roar of the breaking surf 

On some rocky coast he hears ; 
And the squawk of the gull, so harsh to us, 

Is music to this lad's ears. 

Thus all the year round he roams abroad 

O'er the billowy, bounding sea ; 
Knowing no bounds, no rules, no law. 

But happy, content, and free. 
He 's a fellow who loves to romp and play, 

Who often has stormed and raved ; 
But, like other boys, I think you 11 find 

He 's generally well-behaved. 



if 




Every one loves her, she 's so refined ; 
So eentle, so hght and neat." 



The Wind Fairies. 35 

The gentle South Wind is a maiden sweet, 

The friend of young lovers true. 
She peeps through their arbor on moon-lit nights, 

And sings as they bill and coo. 
And her song lulls the tree-top babes to sleep ; 

While the flowers all over the land, 
Dream peacefully on, as they 're slowly swayed 

By this Goddess's gentle hand. 

Every one loves her, she's so refined; — 

So gentle, so light and neat. 
She brings with her hundreds of singing birds, 

And bundles of flowers sweet. 
When she waves her wand o'er a northern clime 

Where Winter has held his sway, 
The cold, barren ground so long confined 

Blooms forth into verdure gay. 

Down where she lives, she likes to fly 

O'er the coral reefs and isles, 
Or wend her way through the tangled paths 

Of the jungle's depths for miles. 
There, while the monkeys jump and dance. 

She follows some shaded path 
To the rivers, to watch the elephants 

Enjoying their noon-day bath. 




Q.K- ^ 



" She dresses in careless, tom-boy style, 
Her cloak flapping here and there." 



The Wind Fairies. 37 

The West Wind is more of the tom-boy style. 

She lives where the mountains rise. 
She pushes the bright-hued clouds across 

The beautiful sunset skies. 
The journey that's taken by the Sun 

Is always toward her domain, 
And she 's proud to display her country's charms, 

Though rugged, or rough and plain. 

She loves the great Prairies' broad expanse, 
. Where the antelopes graze and roam. 
She fans the cook-fires round the door 

Of the Indian's wigwam home. 
She sleeps on the highest of mountain-peaks, 

Where man yet has never trod, — 
Where rocks stand erect instead of trees. 

Where are ledsres instead of sod. 

She dresses in careless tom-boy style. 

Her cloak flapping here and there. 
With a raw-hide girdle around her waist 

And a wealth of long flowing hair. 
She eats the sweet clovers from river-banks, 

She drinks from the bright cascades, 
And certainly is the queen of all 

Such happy-go-lucky maids. 




■'\X\:m, '■■/'/ 



" Some have bedding for the Insects, — 
Gowns and nightcaps for the Birds." 



THE FAIRIES OF THE NIGHT. 

WHEN the world is calmly sleeping, 
Through the quiet summer nights, 
From the Forest 's depths come creeping 

Swarms of tiny Nymphs and Sprites. 
Moving slowly, all on tip-toe, 

At the Forest's edge they stay. 
Till the last hues of the daylight 
O'er the hill-tops fade away. 

Then across the fields they scamper, 

Each one carrying on his back 
Various tools to do his work with. 

Done up in a cobweb sack. 
Some have bedding for the Insects, 

Gowns and nightcaps for the Birds; 
Monstrous music-books, containing 

Lullabies that have no words. 

Others carry tiny cradles 

For the little baby Toads ; 
While behind the rest come rushing 

Many Gnomes with curious loads. 
There are Barrels, Tanks, and Bottles 

Filled with dew, clear to the brinks; 
And these Gnomes, with silver goblets 

Give the Flowers their evening drinks. 
39 




:.^h^'- ^^^^ ^^' " 



" Owls and Bats, with young Mosquitoes, 
Mice and Fire-flies, dance and hop." 



Fairies of the Night. 41 

Now, when all this work is finished 

And the whole World calmly dreams, 
More Nymphs from the woods come skipping, 

Heading for the Fields and Streams. 
They 're a band of sweet musicians, 

Rich in melody and song; 
Hurrying to their wondrous concert, 

That will last the whole night long. 

In the hot June nights, this music 

Through your chamber window floats, 
Sounding now like rippling brooklets. 

Then the Tree-toad's warbling notes. 
From the grass a steady chorus, — 

Buzzings, chirps, and croakings, — show 
How this Fairy Band is playing, 

Loud and fast, or soft and slow. 

Though most all the world is sleeping, 

There are some who hear them play, 
Who prefer the quiet of Evening 

To the light and noise of Day. 
Owls and Bats, with young Mosquitoes, 

Mice and Fire-flies, dance and hop, 
Till the Sun, the King of Fairies, 

Sends his rays to bid them stop. 







" And while you are sleeping they climb up and squat 
In a row on the foot of your bed." 



THE DREAM FAIRIES. 

'T^HE Fairies from Dreamland are queer little folks; 
-*- Quite different from all of the rest. 
If you saw them you 'd laugh at their comical ways, 

And you'd smile just to see how they're dressed; 
For they wear any clothes they can possibly get, 

Odd coats, vests, or what they can catch 
When the wealthier Fairies throw old things away : 

So, naturally, none of them match. 

Then, dressed in this style, they arrive in the night, 

When the stars keep their guard overhead ; 
And while you are sleeping, they climb up and squat 

In a row on the foot of your bed. 
They all sit cross-legged, and giggle and grin, 

And eagerly wait for their King, 
Who presently comes, with your dream in a box. 

Tied up with an old knotted string. 

43 




C.yvv/\ ov.-v-va- 



"■' And while it is working, they dance. 



The Dream Fairies. 45 

He gently unfastens it, lifts off the lid, 

And sets the dream out on the bed. 
Then, after they Ve brushed it and dusted it off, 

They place it up close to your head. 
The King takes the key, and he winds up the dream ; 

And while it is working, they dance 
With the King in the middle, "all hands around," 

Till the end of the beautiful trance. 

Sometimes he has trouble untying the knots, 

And tries to undo them too quick, 
When of course he gets mad, throws the box on the floor, 

And bursts in its sides with a kick. 
Now the dream, though a pretty one when it was packed, 

Is all dented or cracked, he will find. 
Which has spoiled all its beauty, and therefore you'll have 

A nightmare of horriblest kind. 

He ties it together, climbs up on the bed. 

And props up the dream on your breast. 
Then sits on your stomach, and he and the Gnomes 

Await the outcome of the test. 
They say not a word, but whenever you move 

They look at each other and grin. 
While the King, like a statue, keeps still and looks wise, 

And strokes the lone beard on his chin. 




Cm, JVov-fv^<Tv_, 



" For they scamper in forty directions at once 
When they think you 're about to awake." 



The Dream Fairies. 47 

But if it should happen the dream was all smashed 

Till nothing but fragments were found, 
You will have such a nightmare you '11 holler out loud ; 

And my ! don't the Gnomes hop around ! 
They tickle each other and wiggle their heads, 

And a comical picture they make ; 
For they scamper in forty directions at once 

When they think you 're about to awake. 

Quite often it happens the box will contain 

A mixture of several kinds ; 
And when it is opened they're all in a muss, 

So the King takes the first dream he finds. 
While the Gnomes take the others, and all round your head 

They are placed in a circular row; 
But in cases like this there is no time to dance : 

They must keep them all wound up, you know. 

How funny it is when it happens like that! 

One goblin will grind out his dreams. 
But another commences before he leaves off. 

And they both grind at once, till it seems 
Like a queer panorama inside of your head 

(For the rest are all grinding as well); 
And if, the next morning, you 're asked what you dreamed. 

You will find you 're too mixed up to tell. 




And they are such wonderful pictures, too,- 
So skilfully carved and drawn ! " 



THE FROST FAIRY. 

(r\P all of the Fairies the children know 

^-^ And read about, day by day, 

The Frost is the chap that they love to watch, 

With his pictures so bright and gay. 
They know if the weather is clear and cold 

When they jump into bed at night: 
In the morning the windows will sparkle and gleam 

With his pictures of glistening white. 

And they are such wonderful pictures, too, — 

So skilfully carved and drawn ! 
How charming they look when they 're all lit up 

By the gray of the Wintry Dawn ! 
He never exhibits the same ones twice. 

But thousands of weird designs 
Are shown in his pictures of flowers and trees. 

With their feathery sprays and lines. 

49 



**= >^ 




" Taking pictures of waving grains, 
That give him ideas for his shows next year. 



The Frost Fairy. 51 

You probably think, like lots of folks, 

That this Fairy, so clever and queer, 
Is only at work in the winter time. 

And sleeps the rest of the year. 
Ah, no ! He is busy the whole year round, 

Taking pictures of waving grains. 
That give him ideas for his shows next year, 

On your chamber window-panes. 

He does other wonders as well as paint, — 

For have you not seen the ground 
Sparkle and shine in the morning light 

Like diamonds scattered round "^ 
This same little Fairy attends to that, 

And oh ! he has lots of fun 
With his hundreds of sprites who help him work, 

And this is the way it is done : — 

The stars, as you know, don't shine all day, 

But where do you think they're kept.? 
Well, they're taken to places beyond the sky, 

And there they are dusted and swept. 
Of course in the sweeping a dust is raised, 

And this dust, which of course shines bright, 
Is scattered around o 'er the frozen o-round 

By the Frost, in the dead of night. 




" They are taken to places beyond the sky, 
And there they are dusted and swept." 



The Frost Fairy. 

If you treat this wonderful Fairy well, 

He will do just the same by you ; 
But if you offend him, you never can tell 

Just what he is apt to do. 
He is liable either to pinch your ears, 

Or nip all your fingers and toes; 
And sometimes, if he gets really mad, 

He will actually bite your nose. 



53 




THE MUSICAL SPRITES. 

'' I ^HE Musical Fairies are queer little sprites 
■*- Who teach Nature's children to sins:. 
Their lessons are held where the pupils abide, 

And the classes are formed in a ring. 
Some teach the young birds all their beautiful songs 

In a school-room high up in the trees ; 
While a few show the chirp of the crickets and bugs, 

Others teaching the hum of the bees. 



In the bushes are teachers who spend all their time 

Instructing young partridge and quails ; 
And a dozen young sprites teaching squirrels to squeak 

Hold their classes on stone walls and rails. 
There are school-rooms in barn-yards for chickens and ducks 

(With departments for kittens and dogs), 
While the frog-teacher drills his young singers all day 

From a stump in the midst of the bogs. 

54 

















"Thus, early and late are these teachers at work. 
Each proud of his own special class." 



56 The Wonderful Fairies of the Sun. 

In the large open pastures some classes are found 

That surely would cause you to laugh ; 
For the Fairies out there teach the bray of the mule 

And the bleat of the lamb and the calf. 
Little colts learn to neigh, baby pigs grunt and squeal. 

While out in the woods every noon 
The tree-toads and crows practise singing at sight 

And the locust rehearses his tune. 



Thus, early and late are these teachers at work, 

Each proud of his own special class : 
And the pupils enjoy it I know, for they have 

No examinations to pass. 
They all sing as loud or as long as they choose, 

And the teacher is simply to see 
That the chickens don't growl, or the bumble-bees bark. 

Or the dogs try to buzz like a bee. 




THE WEDDING OF "THE MAN IN THE MOON." 

^"^HERE'S a very common notion, which was long ago begun, 

-*- That a man lives in the Moon, and lives alone; 
That he lights the Moon each night with matches borrowed from 
the Sun. 
These are notions, but the facts will now be shown. 
Some traditions make him aged; from the Earth he seems to 
smile ; 
Yet some say that he is weeping all the time : 
But although he 's full each month, he leads a steady, sober life, 
For he was married when he reached that lonely clime. 

He was always rather partial to the little school-girl stars, 

In his early youthful days with Mother Earth, 
And would wink and smile bewitchingly each morning when they 
passed ; 
And when school was out at night, he joined their mirth. 
There was one among their number, though, that seemed to win 
his heart, 
So beautiful, so lovely, pure, and bright, 
That he named her " Pretty Venus ; " paid attentions thick and 
fast. 
And he popped the question one bright August night. 

57 










-■^(^'/M-^m 



















x^t^ 



\ 






/ 




He was always rather partial to the little school-girl Stars." 



The Wedding of ''The Man in the Moon: 59 

When the wedding night was settled, and arrangements were 

complete, 
Every star and planet got a card to go. 

And they every one accepted, all except, of course, the Sun, 
For he never stays out late at night you know. 

Father Jupiter accepted; Saturn said he'd bring the ring; 
Fierce old Mars would be policeman at the door; 

Mercury would be the usher; so the groom was wild with joy. 
And 2:ot fuller than he ever did before. 



On that night, each star and planet donned their very best 
attire, 
Their bright eyes twinkling in their boundless glee. 

'Twas a night when all were merry, from the old down to the 
young, 
And they all joined in to have a grand old spree. 
As the hour was approaching, crowds of guests came pouring 
in; — 
Some were hours ahead of time and had to wait; 
While a member who had stopped to prink, or waited for a 
friend, 
Came on comets, or they'd got there much too late. 




" Fierce old Mars would be policeman at the door.' 



The Wedding of ''The Man in the Moon." 6i 

They were married: and the bridegroom took his lovely blushing 
bride, 

And a loving kiss imprinted on her lips ; 
And whene'er they do it now, as every little while they do, 

Here on earth we call the action an " eclipse ; " 
Then the banquet lamps were lighted and the Heavens were ablaze, 

While a marvellous feast was tendered to the crowds ; 
For a chair each used a moon-beam, and they made a wondrous 
sight 

Round the table, which was laid upon the clouds. 

When the wedding feast was done, congratulations came in stacks ; 

While the wind played glorious music for the dance ; 
Brother Thunder did the prompting in the lancers and quadrilles, 

And the Lightning lit the hall up like a trance. 
'Twas a long time after midnight when the merry-making ceased, 

And the guests each took a small prismatic spray 
Of Aurora Borealis, as a present from the groom, 

To light their passage down the " Milky Way." 






SANTA CLAUS' ASSISTANTS. 

T^ID you ever wonder, children dear, 

^-^ How Santa always knows 

Just what to bring you Christmas Eve? 

Did you for once suppose 
He comes around throughout the year 

To watch the girls and boys 
And find out what they want the most 

In the way of dolls and toys? 

Ah, no indeed ! Old Santa is 

A very busy elf, 
And has no time to go around 

And find out for himself; 
And so he sends his son — what's that? 

You think that is n't true ? 
Oh, yes ! He has a little son, 

And a little daughter too ! 

This little son, when Christmas time 

Draws nearer, day by day, 
Goes driving all around the world 

In a tiny golden sleigh. 
'Tis draw^n by twenty wee white mice; 

And, scampering o'er the ground. 
They stop at every chamber where 

A good boy 's to be found. 
62 




And tells what toys those boys have got, 
And what he thinks they need." 



64 The Wo7iderful Fairies of the Sun. 

And then young Santie skips about 

And peeps in every nook 
Where toys are kept ; and scans them all, 

Each top, ball, bat, or book ; 
Examines all the sleds and skates. 

And when one 's worn or old 
He writes it down on a crystal slate 

With a pencil made of gold. 

Then back he drives to Santa Claus 

At the greatest rate of speed. 
And tells what toys these boys have got 

And what he thinks they need. 
So Santa's workmen make the things, 

And pack them in his sleigh. 
All ready for his midnight ride 

On the eve of Christmas Day. 

But Santa's daughter! My! oh, my! 

How she does travel round ! 
From north to south or east to west. 

Where good little girls are found. 
Her sleigh is made of glistening frost. 

And whew ! How she does go ! 
For she drives a hundred whirling flakes 

Of the purest, whitest snow. 




" Her sleigh is made of glistening frost. 



66 



The Wonderful Fairies of the Sun. 

She visits rooms of little girls, 

And hunts around to see 
If she 'd better order another doll 

To hang on the Christmas-tree. 
She rummages through the bureau drawers, 

The closets, and everywhere. 
To see what things like gloves and lace, 

Or trinkets, are needed there. 

So, children, bear this fact in mind, 

That Santa Claus has spies 
Who watch you all, throughout the year, 

With sharp, all-seeing eyes ; 
And if you 're naughty, those who drive 

The snowflakes and the mice 
Will simply peep inside your room 

And scoot off in a trice ! 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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